Report: U.S. HSR, HrSR spur supply industry

A report released Friday by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) says U.S. high speed rail (HSR), higher-speed rail (HrSR), and intercity rail projects are spurring the U.S. rail supply industry, which is adding jobs and contributing to economic growth.

The report, titled "Midwest High-Speed Rail Supply Chain: Good For Manufacturing Jobs, Good for Economic Growth and Good for Our Environment," specifically focuses on 460 companies in the Midwest HSR rail supply chain, including 122 in Ohio, 99 in Indiana (a state judged by many to be less than hospitable to existing Amtrak operations, let alone HSR and/or HrSR), 84 in Illinois, and 73 in Wisconsin (also, lately, somewhat hostile to intercity assenger rail development).

The report also pointedly notes that the reach of such growth includes supplier companies in states as far away as New York and California.

HSR manufacturing, in particular, is spurring the U.S. rail supply industry, the report says, noting that a total of $782 million in federal investment is being awarded to Midwest states Illinois, Iowa, Michigan,and Missouri, along with California and Washington,to purchase 33 quick-acceleration locomotives and 130 modern bilevel passenger rail cars.